SSCP CIS Benchmarks Practice Question
An organization is implementing system hardening. Which of the following actions are recommended by CIS Benchmarks? (Select all that apply.)
⚠ Common exam trap
SSCP often tests the difference between hardening actions and general system configurations; candidates may confuse enabling DHCP or disabling firewalls as security measures when they are not recommended by CIS Benchmarks.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Remove unnecessary services and accounts
Option A is correct because CIS Benchmarks emphasize reducing the attack surface by removing or disabling unnecessary services, applications, and accounts that are not required for the system's role. Option C is correct because CIS Benchmarks recommend disabling autorun and autoplay to prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious code from removable media and network drives. Option D is correct because enabling User Account Control (UAC) ensures administrative actions require explicit elevation and helps enforce least privilege on Windows systems. Option B is incorrect because CIS Benchmarks generally recommend static IP configuration or controlled network settings for servers rather than enabling DHCP on all interfaces, which can introduce unauthorized or unpredictable network configuration. Option E is incorrect because CIS Benchmarks recommend enabling and properly configuring host-based firewalls, not disabling them, to filter inbound and outbound traffic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Remove unnecessary services and accounts
Why this is correct
Removing unnecessary services and accounts shrinks the attack surface by eliminating unused daemons, listening ports and dormant credentials that attackers exploit for lateral movement or privilege escalation. This directly satisfies the CIS Benchmarks' hardening objective of reducing exploitable components to only those required for the system's documented business function.
- ✗
Enable DHCP for all network interfaces
Why it's wrong here
CIS Benchmarks recommend static addressing or controlled DHCP configurations for servers, because dynamic leases can shift addresses and undermine access controls and audit trails. Enabling DHCP on every interface conflicts with the benchmark's guidance to fix network configuration on hardened systems.
- ✓
Disable autorun and autoplay features
Why this is correct
CIS Benchmarks explicitly recommend disabling autorun and autoplay to prevent removable media and network drives from executing code automatically, closing a common malware propagation path. This hardening action directly reduces the attack surface on Windows endpoints.
- ✓
Enable User Account Control (UAC)
Why this is correct
Enabling User Account Control forces privilege elevation prompts, preventing standard users and malware from silently gaining administrative rights. This matches the CIS Benchmark hardening recommendation to restrict unauthorised privilege escalation on Windows systems, satisfying the hardening objective in the stem.
- ✗
Disable the host-based firewall
Why it's wrong here
CIS Benchmarks direct that host-based firewalls be enabled and configured, since they restrict inbound and outbound connections at the endpoint. Disabling one removes a documented hardening control, leaving the host exposed to lateral movement and unauthorised network access.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
This SSCP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SSCP exam.